Method of prolonging the life of printers&#39; rules.



PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

' T. F. DIXON. METHOD OF PROLONGING THE LIFE OF PRINTERS R APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 7. 1905.

ULES' WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIo THOMAS F; DIXON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF PROLONGING THE LIFE OF PRINTERS RULES- Application filed \Tune '7, 1905.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Serial No. 264.068.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that 1,: THOMAS F. DIXON, of 1 Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented acertain new and useful Method of Prolonging the Life of Printers Rules, whereof the following is aspecification, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings as explanatory of the method of procedure.

The ordinary printers rule consists of a flat strip of brass having a sharpened horizontal edge adapted to make the imprint of a line. The essentials of the structure are that it should have a definite thickness between plane surfaces on each side of proper extent to afford abutments for the faces of the adjacent type and adefinite height (or, more properly speaking, width) in order that the printing edge shall lie in the same plane as the faces of the type. Owing to the delicacy of this sharp edge, it is found that the rules deteriorate with great rapidity, since the ordinary handling, and particularly the throwing of the rules into their receptacles, inevitably produces nicks in the edge which mar the regularity of the printed line. The life of a rule may be from six weeks to two months, depending, of course, upon the frequency ofits use and the care with which it is handled; but, practically speaking, the rules have to be condemned aftera very limited period. As they cost about fifty cents per pound and as they have no value except that of old metal when they 'are condemned, it is obvious that their perishable character constitutes a very considerable item of expense in a printing-office. It is also obvious that the rules cannot be restored by simply resharpening their printing edges, since this would necessarily reduce their width, and consequently when set up the edge would not be in proper relation to the faces of thetype.

The object of my invention is to prolong the life of the rule by such a method of treatment as will permit its edge to be resharpened a number of times, whilestill preserving the essential characteristics of definite width and definite thickness, so that its normal relations to the type shall not be afl'ected by the renewal of the printing edge.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I represents a side elevation of an ordinary rule of considerable length; and Fig. II is a similar side elevation, but showing typical instances of nicks in the printing edge. Fig.

III is a transverse sectional view of the rule on the line III III of Fig. 1.

Figs. IV, V, and

VI are transverse sectional views representing different stages in what may be termed the elementary method of carrying out my invention; and Figs. VII, VIII, and IX are similar transverse sectional views illustrating the stages in asomewhat more highly organized method of carrying out the invention. Fig. X is a view in side elevation corresponding to the conditions which are indicated in the sectional view of Fig. IX.

In carrying out my method I proceed as follows: When a rule has been nicked to such degree that it is no longer reasonably available for use, I distend its width by lateral pressure applied along and limited to a line or lines running longitudinally with the rule, while at the same time preventing distortion of its general figure. The result of the pressure thus applied is to slightly increase the total width of the rule without changing what may be termed its practical dimensions, since the cross-section is only modified at the immediate region to which the pressure is directly applied. The planes of the sides at all other regions than those of immediate application of the pressure, the plane of the bottom, and the planes of the ends remain unchanged in their relation to one another; but by the increase of width the printing edge is uniformly protruded to a sufiicient distance to permit of resharpening, which will obliterate the nicks. In thus resharpening the edge it is trimmed so as to restore the normal width of the rule throughout its entire length. It will be seen that the unaffected plane portions of the sides still form abutments for the adjacent type at the same fixed distance apart as before and that consequently the rule, with its protruded and resharpened edge, is for all practical purposes the same as a new rule.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents a rule having a printing edge 2, which in Figs. I and III is shown in its normal or unimpaired condition. In Fig. II, I have depicted typical instances of nicking, (indicated at 3.) Fig. IV illustrates the crosssection of the rule 1 after the application of the distending pressure, 4 representing the resharpened edge, and 5 5 being grooves formed at the regions of application of the pressure along lines running longitudinally with the rule.

I prefer to employ a rolling pressure applied simultaneously on both sides of the metal; but as the method itself is not dependent upon the character of the devices which IIO be seen that in addition to the grooves 5 5 a second set of grooves 6 6 has been formed, and for a second resharpening, as shown in Fig.VI, a third set of grooves 7 7 has been formed.

The only limitations of the method are that a sufficient extent of the-unaffected plane surfaces at each side of the rule shall be preserved at their initial distance apart to afford proper abutments for the adjacent type.

Instead of proceeding as just stated, where the application of pressure is limited in the first instance to one longitudinal region and is subsequently made along other longitudinal regions, I may proceed in the manner indicated in Figs. VII, VIII, and IX, and in the Correciion in Letters Patent No. u.

side view of Fig. X. In this instance the first application of pressure is made along a plurality of longitudinal regions, preferably on both sides of the metal; but the degree of pressure first applied is, relatively speaking, slight, so as to form shallow grooves, as shown in Fig. VII. When resharpening of the edge is required, I repeat the application of the pressure in the same regions, thus deepening the grooves, as indicated in Fig. VII and again as finally indicated in Figs. IXand X.. Under some conditions I conin the Patent Oifice.

I [snap] sider this distribution of the total pressure simultaneously over several regions preferable to its restriction to a single region at a time, since the tendency to distortion of the strip of metal as a whole is somewhat lessened. The principle, however, is obviously the same, and I therefore do not think it necessary to describe it in further detail.

I am of course aware that it is not new to distend metal by the application of pressure, and I do not broadly claim such operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The hereinbefore-described method of prolonging the life of a printers rule, which consists in applying lateral pressure restricted to a limited region running longitudinally with the rule, whereby the edge is protruded; maintaining a substantial extent of the planes of the sides in their normal relation; and resharpening the edge to a line corresponding to the initial printing edge.

2. The hereinbefore-described method of prolonging the life of a printer's rule, which consists in applying lateral pressure restricted to a plurality of limited regions running longitudinally with the rule, whereby the edge is protruded; maintaining a substantial extent of the planes of the sides, in their normal relation, and resharpening the edge to a line corresponding to the initial printing edge.

In testimony whereof I h ave hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 6th day of June, 1905.

THOL'IAS F. DIXON.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 801,575, granted October 10, 1905, upon the application of Thomas F. Dixon, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Method for Prolonging the Life of Printers Rules, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 38, page 2, the roman letters VII should read VIII; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D. 1905.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

be seen that in addition to the grooves 5 5 a second set of grooves 6 6 has been formed, and for a second resharpening, as shown in Fig.VI, a third set of grooves 7 7 has been formed.

The only limitations of the method are that a sufficient extent of the-unaffected plane surfaces at each side of the rule shall be preserved at their initial distance apart to afford proper abutments for the adjacent type.

Instead of proceeding as just stated, where the application of pressure is limited in the first instance to one longitudinal region and is subsequently made along other longitudinal regions, I may proceed in the manner indicated in Figs. VII, VIII, and IX, and in the Correciion in Letters Patent No. u.

side view of Fig. X. In this instance the first application of pressure is made along a plurality of longitudinal regions, preferably on both sides of the metal; but the degree of pressure first applied is, relatively speaking, slight, so as to form shallow grooves, as shown in Fig. VII. When resharpening of the edge is required, I repeat the application of the pressure in the same regions, thus deepening the grooves, as indicated in Fig. VII and again as finally indicated in Figs. IXand X.. Under some conditions I conin the Patent Oifice.

I [snap] sider this distribution of the total pressure simultaneously over several regions preferable to its restriction to a single region at a time, since the tendency to distortion of the strip of metal as a whole is somewhat lessened. The principle, however, is obviously the same, and I therefore do not think it necessary to describe it in further detail.

I am of course aware that it is not new to distend metal by the application of pressure, and I do not broadly claim such operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The hereinbefore-described method of prolonging the life of a printers rule, which consists in applying lateral pressure restricted to a limited region running longitudinally with the rule, whereby the edge is protruded; maintaining a substantial extent of the planes of the sides in their normal relation; and resharpening the edge to a line corresponding to the initial printing edge.

2. The hereinbefore-described method of prolonging the life of a printer's rule, which consists in applying lateral pressure restricted to a plurality of limited regions running longitudinally with the rule, whereby the edge is protruded; maintaining a substantial extent of the planes of the sides, in their normal relation, and resharpening the edge to a line corresponding to the initial printing edge.

In testimony whereof I h ave hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 6th day of June, 1905.

THOL'IAS F. DIXON.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 801,575, granted October 10, 1905, upon the application of Thomas F. Dixon, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Method for Prolonging the Life of Printers Rules, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 38, page 2, the roman letters VII should read VIII; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D. 1905.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

ion in Correci It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 801,575, granted October 10 1905,

upon the application of Thomas F. Dixon, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Method for Prolonging the Life of Printers Rules, rLli error appears in the printed specification requiring correction. as follows: In line 38 page 2, the

roman letters VII should read VIII; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice,

Signed and scaled this 24th day of October, A. D.. 1905.

is Ql [SEAL] it 1. ALLEN.

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